1

𝑓 (𝑥 )=
𝑥−1
 𝑋 +3
𝑓 (𝑥 )= 2
𝑋 −2 𝑋 − 3
 x5
g x   2
x5 x 5

x  x  6 x  2 x  3
2

x  x6
x20 x3  0
x  2 x3
This function has two vertical asymptotes,
one at x = -2 and the other at x = 3
 x5
g x   2
x  x6
This function has two vertical
asymptotes, one at x = -2 and the other
at x = 3 The two vertical
dotted lines at
x = -2 and x = 3 are
the vertical
asymptotes
 We compare the degrees of the
polynomial in the numerator and the
polynomial in the denominator to tell
us about horizontal asymptotes

Locating Horizontal Asymptotes

Let f be the rational function given by

an x n  an 1x n 1    a1x  a0
f ( x)  m 1
, an  0, bm  0
bm x  bm 1x    b1x  b0
m

The degree of the numerator is n. The degree of the denominator is m.

1. If n < m, the x-axis is the horizontal asymptote of the graph of f.
2. If n = m, the line y = is the horizontal asymptote of the graph of f.
an
is
bm
3. If n = m + 1, the quotient is in the form ax + b , and the line y = ax + b is
called an oblique (or slant) asymptote.
4. If n > m + 1, the graph of f has neither a horizontal asymptote or an
oblique asymptote.
 then there is a horizontal asymptote at the
line y=0 because the degree of the
x  3x  5
2
f x  
numerator (2) is less than the degree of the
denominator (3). This means that as x gets
x  27
3
larger and larger in both the positive and
negative directions (x → ∞ and x → -∞)
the function itself looks more and more
like the horizontal line y = 0
 then because the degree of the numerator (2)
is equal to the degree of the denominator (2)
6 x  3x  5
2
g x   2 there is a horizontal asymptote at the line
5x  7 x  9 y=6/5. Note, 6 is the leading coefficient of the
numerator and 5 is the leading coefficient of
the denominator. As x→∞ and as x→-∞ g(x)
looks more and more like the line y=6/5
 7

2
3x 4

Graph: f ( x)  2 . 3

x 4
yy == 33 2
1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1

xx == -2 -2 xx == 22
-2 -3

3
x-intercept
x-intercept
Horizontal
Horizontal 2
and
asymptote: and y-
y-
asymptote: yy 1
intercept
intercept
== 33
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1
Vertical
Vertical -2 Vertical
Vertical
asymptote:
asymptote: xx == -3 asymptote:
asymptote: xx
-2
-2 == 22
 7

x 2  4x  5
6

Find the slant asymptotes of f (x) = x 3 . 5

4
Slant
Slant asymptote:
asymptote:
3 yy == xx -- 11
Solution Because the degree of the numerator, 2, is exactly one
2
more than the degree of the denominator, 1, the graph of f has a 1
slant asymptote. To find the equation of the slant asymptote, divide
x - 3 into x2 - 4x - 5: -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-1

-2 Vertical
Vertical asymptote:
asymptote:
xx == 33
8 -3

1x  1 
x3
x3 x 2  4x  5